XP Systems Slow to Open Local Files/Connect to Internet

[hunterba]

I have two laptops and a desktop system connected via a wireless network. The laptop running Vista works fine. The laptop and desktop running XP have developed a serious problem, namely:
.when trying to open a Word or Excel document both systems will display a "not responding" message for approx 3 minutes before the files finally open (during this time the only process running in the Task Manager is the System Idle Process at 99%.)
.when I click on a hyperlink in a mail message (using Outlook on one system and Outlook Express on the other) the same thing happens as above.
This all seams to have started when I dumped Symantec and went to Windows Live OneCare. To complicate matters, SP3 automatically downloaded on both XP systems at approx. the same time. I checked for malware and viruses - there are none. I also ran two registry cleaners and found literally hundreds of problems (most of which the free cleaner I'm using,Eusing, wouldn't fix.)
Can anyone provide my with some suggestions please.

 

[dodomcsc]

Are the laptop/desktop having the issues mapped to any network drives? I've seen this kind of behavior before and removing the mapped network drives usually alleviates the slowness(especially if they are no longer valid mappings).

Hope this works.....

dodomfcg

 

[hunterba]

Neither system has any mapped network drives.

Barrie

 

[BadBigBen]

Hold the CTRL key and open Word, the open the DOC file... is the behavior different or the same? (holding CTRL and opening Word opens it in SAFE MODE, FYI)...

alternative, navigate to the following DIR, C:\Documents and Settings\”user_name”\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent and delete it...

more info:

The program stops responding when you try to open or to save a file in an Office 2002 program,
in an Office 2003 program and in an Office 2007 program

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313937

An Office program is slow or may appear to stop responding (hang) when you open a file from a network location

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833041

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[hunterba]

Same slow response when I open a file in safe mode.

Problem only ever occurs when opening a file or clicking on an embedded hyperlink - once the file is open or I'm connected everything works fine however I'll check the MS support links you've given me.

Tks.
Barrie

 

[BadBigBen]

In Safe Mode (F8) navigate to the following Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\"user_name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent

rename it from Recent to Recent_old, so see if that has any impact on the problem...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[GrimR]

Has Windows Live OneCare got a check when opening file scanner?
Are all symantec entries deleted, form c:\ and registry.
Registry cleaners will not remove those entries. [e.g. msconfig]
Check for services [symantec] stop them or delete them {services.msc}
As dodomfcg pointed out also check My Network Places mappings.

Delete services script

On Error Resume Next
Computer = InputBox("Enter the computer name", "Delete Service", "localhost")

SName = InputBox("Enter the name of the service","Delete Service")

Set Services = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & Computer & "\root\cimv2").ExecQuery("select * from Win32_Service where Name = '" & SName & "'")

For each Service in Services
  Service.Delete()
Next

 

[hunterba]

I really appreciate all of the help/suggestions you folks are giving me.
I really thought the fix at

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833041

was going to do the trick but unfortunately it didn't.
I also tried to rename the Office Recent file to Recent_Old - that didn't work either.
And I have long suspected the problem is with either the dregs of Symantec code left on both systems or with Live OneCare. I used the Symantec removal tool to get rid of all of their code and it didn't fix the problem.
With respect to the existance of a check when opening file scanner in Live OneCare, I can't find any reference to that in my LOC settings. Could you elaborate please?

Tks
Barrie

 

[beerhunter2]

Do you happen to have Google Toolbar and/or Google Notifier installed? If so, remove them and see if that works.

I have seen this behavior a couple of times, and it was caused by a corrupt Google Toolbar installation. How it became corrupt I don't know.

You can reinstall Google Toolbar if you want after you uninstall it, and there seems to be no problems.

Help! I've fallen and I can't reach my beer.

 

[BadBigBen]

More to read:

Documents that have attached templates take a long time to open in Word 2002 and in Word 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=830561

below are for Excel but may apply to Word as well, especially the second one, there just change the extensions to reflect the ones word uses...

Slow opening Excel files through explorer

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.technet/browse_thread/thread/6232f8906a444c6a

Slow Opening Excel 2003 Files in Excel 2007

http://www.m3rlin.org/wordpress/slow-opening-excel-2003-files-in-excel-2007/

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Are there any strange errors recorded in the Event Viewer?

Do your Hyperlinks work properly if you load "Safe Mode with Networking"?

Hyperlinks Do Not Work in Outlook Express or in Word

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823301&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Hyperlinks in an e-mail message do not work in Outlook 2000 or in Outlook 2002

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;257464&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249#appliesto

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 (All Languages)

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

Symantec pins blame for XP SP3 registry corruption on Microsoft

http://www.computerworld.com/action...eBasic&articleId=9088598&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1

More SP3 issues
thread779-1474900

 

[hunterba]

For those of you following this thread I attach the first of four responses I received from the Live OneCare support people. Microsoft have been very responsive and following their instructions has eliminated the problem. The current status is that I'm still working thru the System Configuration Utility, restoring services one at a time to pin down what actually caused the problem, and will let you know the result.

"Thank you for contacting Windows Live OneCare Support. My name is Jenny, and I will be working with Bruce to assist you with this issue.

From the problem description, I understand that after Windows Live OneCare is installed, it takes a long time to open a Word, Excel document, or open a link in Outlook. You have tried to run virus and registry scan, many problems in registry information cannot be fixed. If I have misunderstood, please feel free to let me know.

I understand the inconvenience you have experienced. Please be assured that I will do my best to help you.

Let's disable all startup items and third party services when booting. This method will help us determine if this issue is caused by a loading program or service on computer startup. Please perform the following steps:

Clean Boot
=========
1. Click "Start", go to "Run", and type "msconfig" (without quotation marks) in the open box then click OK to start the System Configuration Utility.
2. Click the "Services" tab, check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" box and click Disable All (if it is not gray).
3. Re-enable the checkboxes for "OneCare Firewall" and "OneCare AntiSpyware and Antivirus" service.
4. Click the "Startup" tab and take note of the items that are checked and the items that are unchecked, as we will want to return your computer to this configuration when we finish troubleshooting. Once the checked items have been noted, click Disable all. After that, find and re-check the checkbox in front of "winssnotify.exe".
5. Click OK.

Then, restart your computer.

Note: Temporarily disabling the Startup Group only prevents the startup programs from loading at startup. This should not affect the system or other programs. We may still manually run these programs later.

Please check if the issue persists. If it persists, we will try other solutions to troubleshoot the issue. However, if the issue disappears, I will help you to narrow down the cause of the issue. Therefore, please let me know the result after disabling all startup items and third party services. After sending the result, please return to Normal Mode via the following steps:

1. Click "Start" and choose "Run", type "MSCONFIG" (without quotation marks) and press ENTER.
2. Click on the "Startup" Tab and return your computer to the configuration we noted in the previous step. Place a checkmark in the items that were previously checked which will return your computer to its initial configuration.
3. Click on the "Service" Tab and repeat the above steps. Then, click "OK" and click Restart when you are prompted to restart your computer.

Meanwhile, please help to collect the following information for further research:

Support Log
=======
1. Open Windows Explorer and browse to this folder if Windows is installed on C::

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\

2. In this folder, double click the file named OneCareSupport or OneCareSupport.exe.
3. When it finishes the information collection, note the path and file name of the information file. (Generally, it is C:\OneCareSupportData.zip)
4. Please send this file to v-30jeli@mssupport.microsoft.com

System Information
===============
1. Press Start, Run and type in msinfo32. Press OK.
2. Choose Save from the File menu and save it as an NFO file.
3. Find the file, right-click on this file, click "Send To", and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder".
4. Please send it to v-30jeli@mssupport.microsoft.com.

Please try my suggestions and let me know the results at your earliest convenience. If anything is unclear, please feel free to let me know. I will follow up with you as soon as possible.

I look forward to your reply."

In a follow-up memo the Live OneCare supoport people told me the system information file I sent them showed that vestiges of two anti-virus/firewall aps I had previously removed (AVG and AD-Aware) were still on the system so I also removed them.

Again, I have to thank the Live OneCare people for being so responsive to my request for assistance.